Tubular package forming and filling method and apparatus



March 23, 1948.

J. J. BARNl-:T'r TUBULAR4 PACKAGE FORMING "AND FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 14, 1945 March 23, 194s.

J. .1.A BARNETT TUBULAR PACKAGE FORMING AND FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed March 14, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w n :n n

Patented Mar. 23, 1948 TUBULAR PACKAGE FORMING AND FILLING BIETHOD AND APPARATUS Joseph J. Barnett, Chicago, Ill., assgnor to Chase Candy Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Missouri Application March 14, 1946, Serial No. 654,369

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming and filling tubular packages.

In the packaging of small candies and small candy-like particles commonly used in the decoration of pastry, it has been found commercially advantageous to package these goods in transparent packages of rather small size. Various kinds of materials suitable for this purpose have been used such as transparent papers and sheet material such as "Cellophane. Heretofore, such packages have generally beenmade by hand. In accordance with this invention, means and methods are provided for forming such packages by machinery, and at the same time lling the packages as rapidly as they are formed. This is contrary to prior methods in which packages of this character were formed entirely by manual operation and then stacked in boxes or crates for subsequent filling.

One of the objects of this invention therefore is to provide means and methods for forming tubular packages from sheet material, usually of a flexible transparent nature.

Another object of the invention is to provide means and methods for forming-such packages and for lling them immediately after forming before removal from the forming machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. single machine adapted for the forming of cylindrical packages and the filling of the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for forming and filling a cylindrical package which means can be operated by one operator at a single position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for forming a flexible sheet into a cylindrical package, employing suction for gripping and retaining the sheet material upon a rotating mandrel t facilitate wrapping the sheet about the mandrel.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be alluded to hereinafter and will become apparent from a perusal of the specification and drawings in which there is shown andv described, to illustrate the nature of the invention, a preferred embodiment thereof.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of theessential parts of the apparatus;

Figure 2 shows the position of the sheet of ma- .501

terial preliminary to wrapping it; Y

Figure 3 is a partial sectional view showing the sheet material wrapped upon the cylindrical mandrel. with the bottom end of the formed tube twisted together;

e claims. (oi. sas-5) Figure 4 shows the next step in the forming of the package, namely, the insertion of the twisted lower end of the cylindrical package upwardly into the rotating tube; and

Figure 5 shows the iinal step in the operation of withdrawing the cylindrical package from the mandrelafter it has been lled.

- Referring further to the drawings, a filling spout i will be positioned on a charge measuring machine in such a manner as to receive measured charges to be delivered into the packages. The details of construction of the mechanism for measuring the charges and for assuring the delivery of measured charges at each filling operation do not constitute a part of this invention, as such constructions are well known and any satisfactory one may be employed.` However, to illustrate the mode of operation, I have shown a filling spout I having a valve '2 in the form of a truncated cone, the interior of which is provided with 'a hollowed' out chamber 3 within which is mounted a rotatable cam 4 on a shaft 5. The shaft 5 passes through the wall of the filling spout I' and through a slot 6 in the side of the valve 2 and has connected at its outer end a bell crank 'I to which is connected an operating link 8. It is apparent that by rotating the cam 4 in a clockwise direction from the position as shown in Figure 1, the high point on the cam will cause the valve to rise, permitting the measured charge a1- ready contained in the cone or spout I to fall down below the valve.

.It should be understood that this valve mechanism is merely illustrative of a means for controlling the release of a previously measured charge, and is not vshown to indicate a preferred construction.

The link 8 is connected to the arm 9 of a bell crank pivoted at I0. The arm Il of the bell crank is pivotally connected to a link I2 which in turn is pivotally connected to an arm I3 which is intended to be rotated integrally with a foot pedal I4, by means of which the operator may open the valve 2. It is indicated that the pedal I4 is -pivotally mounted on a bracket I5. A spring I6 under the foot pedal tends normally 5to restore the valve to closed position.

Also connected with the arm II of the bell crank is another link I'I whose lower end is pivotally connected with the arm I8 pivotally mounted at I9, the arm carrying on its end a valve 20 whose function will later be described.

A rotatable mandrel consisting of two concentric sleeves 2| and 22 is positioned below the sta- 55 tionary iilling spout. I and-rotatably supported essaies' 3 in any appropriate manner, no means therefore being shown herein. A pulley 23 xed on the outer sleeve 2| and driven by a belt 24 from any suitable source of power will rotate the mandrel.

The inner sleeve 22 constitutes a lling tube for delivering the lling material to the packages, its upper `Aend-being secured in aire tightrlation. as by weldingr orotlerwi'se to .the 'ipperlendbf the outer tube 2| and its lower end likewise being sealed against the lower end of the outer tub`.". As shown on the drawings, an annularspaoe s.

thereby provided between the' twoY this space is normally maintained under suc i K during the forming operationiby supplying uum through the pipe 25 into 1an annular chainber 26 formed in the bearing 21 within which the outer sleeve rotates. A plurality ci?,v ports @itY spaced at intervals in the outer' -slve 2| estab 1 h communication between the suction sp'e 'bei tween the two sleeves andthe vacuum supply line ai. A plurality oi porissuoligas .12.9. i9 .and 3J are proyiolodfm the .outer s.1 for "purpose gripping by .Suotionthe shoetime Whip .i to be wound about the mandrel. As

indicated .in the' `drawings, those throegsuotionports m arranged. ina single .venti .1.. lino; although employ other arrangements nfltho. suotop. ports- The' apparatus shown in Fie-.ure a1 .operated as follows. The rotatable mandrel is pigeerably continuously rota-tedbythe pulloyfz. .andsuo is normally maintained through thepipe the space between the .eccentriogsleeves 2J* nd 22,.the valve 2.0, normallybeinghegld .closed by the .spring `32. .Any suitable"Lrriechanisril.1101iv shown,V .delivers .measured charges .of-einnter 'l such as smallcandy particles ordecoratit ma: terial into the hopper l'ior subsequent release. bythe valve' l2.VV .Some emeans A(not shown). 'under control .of thel .operator .delivers .the measuredY chargesY intothe hopper; and. such means-may be ccnnectedwith the `foot .operated .pedal 4Lil .ffldesired. Operationof thepedallthlough .theaoton of the cam' 4. raises-the .ValyefIMhiChis guided.

on .a post 3 3. extending into V,the bore 4. ltimay be assumed that the "slot .6. is .too .smallior .the

escape of filling niateriaifor.. .that it' Vmay. be shielded to prevent escape .ci.suchparticles;- vTo assist. in the Yaccurateeedng of .sheet .to

the rotating mandrel, :1 -may z-mount adjoining :but slightly .spaced apart tlierefiiomY ,aV .dat date 31.5.'

having extending outwardly. from iits. .front `ace guide pins 36 and 37 against ailliichthetopedge of asl'ieetY of the materialbe abutltedz'i The mountin'gnf .this guide p1'ate135 in ayerticaLposi.- tion .m'aybe accomplished :in any V:desired manner.

In forder to ifo'rm' aj cylindrical 'packagegfthe operator will place a pre-cut sheet .of .predetermined dimensions "against the .plate v35;.Zari'cl-slide it .over 'un'til the leading'lvertical edge' .oiga sheet shown in Figure 2,' with .rthooupbeif Edge' ofthe' sheet abutting'a collar'13B..;whic-h .is adjustably secured uponthe mandrelbytone Q1" more 'set screws .45j gTheoperatorzwilljthen pressthelsheelt against the mandrel with one hand,oi.sbmegother means may be provided .fori accomplishing this effectgin 'order .that as fthe* mandrel rotatesgand:

the'suctio'nholes 29; 3Q" and 3l corneinto juxtaposition 'with the sheet,they l'may .grip'the 'sheet Y by suction and wind it about the mandrel; /Qr'f dinarily it 'willbesulcientifthe operator places the palm of his han'dzagairlst the sheettolenable the suction ports it'o '.'gripthe sheet, ater the' sheet will be wrappedjrbund 'the .mandrel as the.. operator'sr hand holdslit` in prprlalign' is re g l.cfor'iterits Ler leakageof the contents without seal, iii'g .the'traili'ng 'edge of the sheet where it termi- 4 ment, permitting it however to slide under the palm of the hand.

It has been found from experience that the horizontal dimension of the sheet, as it is viewed in Figure 2, should be suiiicient so that the sheet will be wrapped twice or slightly more around thomaodro1.a1th9ugh bh'of'oxaot "dimension and hence the amount of overlapping is not critical. A-s the material employed will usually be of the nature of Cellophane or other transparent flex- .ilqle material, a cylindrical package of such d' construction provides substantial ubl arid adequately precludes spilling of the nates on the outside of the package.

The amount .of pressure cr drag exerted by the haridrptiierwise upon the Sheet whiie it is being wrapped, and before itslowerr end is closed asv described below determines the snugness with which `the sheet iswound Ion the mandrel and CIOSSHQSS o fV the inner andouter-,layers cithe Sheet. .Hencewthe pressurecrdrag shcuidlie reigulated to produce tightly. woundilayersfliutjnot wound sc snugly as to prevent, ready removalifroin' themapdrel. i f

VIt willbe noted `that in placing the sheet pre? paratory .to winding, as :shown in Figure Zythe' lowered-ge of thesheet extends below .the bottom' edgeof the i'c-tai'ii'ngjmandrel,V for Ja distance which in ay .be roughly in the neighborhoodiof 'an inch or" morezdepending upon the diameter of thepackage :to .bre formed. lrnrnediatelyafter the sheet :ofi materialis completely Wound and still-.held upon the mandrel, the operator Ywill gitaspithelcylin Icir-.icalportion ofthepackage extcndingbelow the mandrel, pinch it togethers with his fingers,- iand hold it slightly.` .against the. rotative force ofgtlie"V mandrel, which .wiilfcauseith'e sheetto crinkle .ande

twist upon itself in an" interlocking manner. Tkllleofter, .the operator will push this .twisted porti-on or tail' Which is indicated as Afl.' in Figure` 3, upwardly inside theirctating mandrel iuntilit occupies the 'position shown in Figure 4. irt'has beenffounjdthat 'bye thus intussuscepting zthef `twisted end .of

tooifpackasefup iosideloitnehoiicw mandrel; the

Operator .may release the suction beine exerted through the suction ports upon the .nalaga .by Stopping tnepedai.. i .4, while'graspingV the pack- @se with the han-d. and causing itfto slide down.- Wardly 1011s the rotating mandreLThemandrel is slightly' tapered.' as shown 'in f the .drawing tol ward a smaller. diameter; at its lower lend .tio ia# Ycilita'te removal .oi the package. `The .operation of the foot pedal also opens the valve 2; an'dprmits tlieiilling materialito fallthrollgh'itheiinner i 4 sleeve into the .pGkag'asthe palckageisbeing lowerodgcn the mandrel.' -By the time the package reaches the position .showngin ,Figure 5; Where it" Y is-.about to be :removed from. the mahdrelgthe f charge ,oiilling mateiialfwill allibo in thezpaek-L agie; :leavinglanain-ple.emptyspace aboyetheztop;

of the lling material within thellpalkdgihat? Y the top end of the package may later be turned over and closed or sealed in any suitable manner. I have found that it is practical to fold the top of the package inwardly and seal it with a label, although obviously other methods may be employed to effect closure of the top end of the package.

The packages thus filled, even though not sealed, have suicient rigidity, due to their construction and due to the material contained within them, that they may be stood upright in a crate until opportunity is found to close or seal their tops.

While a stationary conical hopper containing a valve is shown a hopper rotating with the mandrel could be substituted therefor and the controlled delivery of measured .charges thereinto could be provided for.

From the foregoing explanation, it will be apparent that cylindrical packages may be formed in accordance with this invention and filled almost simultaneously in a simple and brief operation. The rotation of the package by the mandrel during the filling operation assists in distributing and compacting the material as it falls into the package.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment but is susceptible of suitable variations and modications without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A method of forming and filling a tubular package comprising engaging a sheet of eXible material with a rotating mandrel having suction ports thereon, causing the mandrel to grip the sheet by suction exerted through said ports and wrapping the sheet about the mandrel to form a tubular structure, allowing a portion of the sheet during wrapping to protrude beyond the lower end of the mandrel, twisting together the protrudin-g portion of the package to form a tail and inserting the tail upwardly into the mandrel, releasing the suction applied to said package through said ports and sliding the package off the mandrel, and introducing filling material into the package as it is being slid off the mandrel.

2. A package forming and filling apparatus comprising a rotatable hollow mandrel having double concentric walls providing an air chamber therebetween, suction ports provided in the outer wall of the mandrel, means for exerting suction upon the air space between the walls, means for controlling the application of suction to sheet material contacting said mandrel during package forming and for release of the suction thereafter, and means for supplying filling material through the inner concentric wall of the mandrel into the formed package.

3. A package forming and filling apparatus comprising a rotatable hollow mandrel having closely spaced concentric walls providing an annular air space therebetween, regulatable means for applying suction to said air space while the mandrel is rotating, suction ports in the outer wall of said mandrel for gripping a sheet of material to retain the same during wrapping of the sheet about said mandrel during the forming of a tubular package, and regulatable means for supplying lling material for delivery through said inner wall into the package after the pack age has been formed on said mandrel and is closed at its lower end and is still engaged in part with said mandrel.

4. A tubular package forming and filling apparatus comprising a stationary iilling spout having a port at its lower end, a rotating mandrel provided with concentric spaced apart walls and constructed to form a narrow annular air space between them, said inner wall being vertically in registration with the port of said spout, suction ports in said outer mandrel wall, controllable means for applying suction to said air space and through said suction ports for gripping a sheet of material and retaining it during the wrapping of the same around said mandrel for forming a tubular package, the lower open end of the mandrel being shaped to permit the tubular package after wrapping tobe twisted at its lower end and the twisted portion inserted upwardly into said mandrel, and means for delivering measured charges of lling material through said spout into the package through the inner concentric wall of the mandrel.

5. A package forming and filling apparatus comprising a rotatable mandrel having concentric spaced apart walls sealed together at their upper and lower ends, a lling spout mounted above said mandrel, means for delivering measured charges of filling material from said spout through the inner of said concentric walls, suction ports in the outer of said walls, means for applying suction through said ports to grip a sheet of flexible material for retaining the same during wrapping of the sheet about said mandrel to form a tubular package, and means for releasing said suction to facilitate withdrawal of said tubular package from said mandrel.

6. A package forming and filling apparatus comprising a rotatable hollow mandrel having double concentric walls providing an air chamber therebetween, suction ports provided in the outer wall of the mandrel positioned for gripping a sheet of package material during the wrapping of the same about the mandrel, a suction box in which a cylindrical portion of the mandrel rotates, means for exerting suction upon the air space between the walls including duct means in said box and mandrel mutually registerable, means for controlling the application of suction to sheet material contacting said mandrel during package forming and for the release of the suction thereafter, and means for supplying filling material through the inner concentric wall ci the mandrel into the formed package.

JOSEPH J. BARNETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 883,169 Chesney Mar. 31, 1908 1,312,570 Palmer Aug. l2, 1919 1,792,203 Wakefield Feb. 10, 1931 2,135,132 Boehmer Nov. 1, 1938 

